Prashanth

Prashanth Thiagarajan, known professionally as Prashanth, is an Indian actor and businessman, known for his works predominantly in Tamil cinema.

Besides Tamil films, he has also appeared in few Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam films.

At the peak of his career in the late 1990s, Prashanth was one of the popular actors in South India.

He has won a Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu.

The son of actor-director Thiagarajan, Prashanth began his career at 17 by appearing in Vaigasi Poranthachu (1990) and went on to feature in other films including Balu Mahendra's Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992), R. K. Selvamani's Chembaruthi (1992), K. Rushendra Reddy's Tholi Muddhu (1993), and Mani Ratnam's action-comedy Thiruda Thiruda (1993).

The success of this film saw him garner opportunities to work in bigger film projects and in the late 1990s, he featured in a series of breakthrough films such as Kannedhirey Thondrinal (1998), Kaadhal Kavithai (1998), Jodi (1999), Parthen Rasithen (2000) and Piriyadha Varam Vendum (2001).

Prashanth was born in Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

He is the son of Thiagarajan (actor and director) in Tamil films while his maternal grandfather Peketi Sivaram was an actor and a director of Telugu and Kannada films.

His paternal cousin is fellow film actor Vikram.

He studied Computer Graphics and Multimedia and went to Trinity College of Music in London before embarking on an acting career.

Prashanth started off as a leading romantic hero in the 1990 Tamil film Vaigasi Poranthachu at the age of 17.

He then appeared in the Malayalam film Perumthachan written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair where he played the son of the title character.

He also acted in Tholi Muddhu alongside Divya Bharti which was the remake of the Bollywood film Dil.

Prashanth used to be the chocolate boy of Tamil cinema during the 1990s and he plays a variation of that stereotype in portraying Azhagu.

This is the most adventurous of Mani Ratnam's movies.

The film also won National Film Award for Best Special Effects.

Prashanth focused on Tamil and acted in Thiruda Thiruda (1993) directed by Mani Ratnam and music by A. R. Rahman.

At the end of the year, he play in the film Kizhakke Varum Paattu (1993).

In 1994, he released three films like Rasa Magan, Kanmani and Senthamizh Selvan.

These films had an average success.

It featured Miss World 1994 winner Aishwarya Rai as the lead actress.

The role of the male lead was declined by Abbas and Ajith Kumar, before it ended with the chocolate boy.

The film was a modern-day Twelfth Night adaptation.

The film has been nominated several awards in the country.

Aanazhagan (1995), his only movie of the year was directed by Prashanth's father and actor Thiagarajan.

In the film, Prashanth disguises himself as a woman in order convince the landlady.

The film revolves around Prashanth and his friends who search for a new house after being kicked out from the previous place.

Prashanth is forced to dress in the drag after the landlady insists that the house only for a family man and not bachelors.

Aanazhagan was very successful at the box-office.

The comedy tracks are still remembered today, and a stellar performance of Prashanth as Lakshmi.

In 1996, he co-starred in Kalloori Vaasal with Ajith Kumar.

The film opened on 18 February 1996 to mixed reviews.

Krishna (1996) and Mannava (1997) are also two medium success films.

Prashanth rose to stardom with Shankar's romantic comedy Jeans (1998) in which he played a dual role alongside Aishwarya Rai.

In 1998, Prashanth appeared in dual roles in S. Shankar's film, Jeans.

It was quite the commercial enterprise.

He completed his 12th grade and was enlisted in two medical colleges.

His first intention was to be a doctor, but finally he decided to be an actor, like his father T. Thiagarajan, also producer and film director.

Prashanth owns a multi-storeyed jewelry mart in Panagal Park.

He is also a trained pianist.